(no subject)

[maskormods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Jeopardy -> Heropa
WHEN: Nov. 19
WHAT: A resolution and a swear-in
WARNINGS: Please label threads

Somewhere, in a place that is and is not Jeopardy, time has passed. To some, it may have felt like mere hours; to others, days. For time doesn't truly touch this place. Only fate exists here, for imPorts to change or allow to proceed as it will.

Somewhere, the sisters look into the hearts of those with the power to decide the fate of this entire world and know their choice. A blinding light grows, forcing even the strongest to close their eyes, and as they do so, a vision of what could have happened appears in their minds. A world wreathed in flames, fire and screams echoing ceaselessly as they depart; a peaceful world, healed and whole and well—and a certainty that another world has paid a heavy price.

And then there's the sensation of three powerful forces leaving, two taking an unwilling third with them to wherever they are going. This world will be left as it is now, and its future will be whatever the people here make of it.

MEANWHILE, IN HEROPA

One week into the mysterious storm that has enveloped much of Jeopardy, citizens across the nation are losing hope. The government continues to monitor the situation at a safe distance, but cannot enter the affected part of the city, though one SEAL team did make an attempt, only to become lost in the wind for hours before emerging without ever making it through. While the storm hasn't grown, neither has it shown any sign of changing.

The heroes who bravely charged into the storm have not officially been given up for lost, but with no news coming from Jeopardy, few believe they will emerge unscathed. To honor their sacrifice (?) and offer sorrowful natives a means of coping, a candlelight vigil kicks off outside Heropa City Hall at 4:30 PM EST.



Speeches are given. Commemorative t-shirts are sold. It is at this point that a large portal of light opens up in front of the building and deposits all imPorts who entered the storm, as well as a confused but unharmed Layla and Sally Clapp. A stunned silence falls over the crowd — followed shortly by an eruption of cheers.

Organized chaos quickly reigns over the occasion. Medical personnel are quickly called in to aid any imPorts who might need it, and government officials quickly descend, one thing on their mind: what the heck happened, heroes?! ImPorts are asked to state, for the record, exactly what they experienced — which leaves a lot of room open for the more creative among them. Just what each imPorts is willing to confess to or lie about is up to them, but there are other imPorts at hand to refute or support all statements.

While imPorts are technically free to go, all are encouraged to enter the building for a debriefing with government officials. Those who care to share their story begin to paint a picture of what happened, and a flurry of transportation begins to move between City Hall and the local porter outpost, as Jeopardy will certainly require some aid now that it is fully accessible. Reports begin to filter back that while there have been some casualties and collateral damage to the city, it is far less of a disaster than the government anticipated during the storm, no doubt due to imPorts' efforts. Additionally, news from other porter cities begins to arrive; with the dissipation of the Jeopardy storm, all dimensional anomalies elsewhere have ceased.

Following the briefings, ImPorts may go home and get some rest, although they may have trouble shaking off the crowds — which are largely ecstatic that the people who apparently saved the world are in front of them.



While imPorts were occupied with the post-disaster debriefings, locals have used the time to launch an impromptu celebration of their defense of this world. Local restaurants, breweries and nanas have hustled their finest wares over, and free food and drink are flowing for the homecoming heroes. A local party & events organizing company has strung up some lights and tents in the park across the street from City Hall, lending a festive atmosphere to the area. T-shirts being sold to honor the assumed-fallen heroes have been 'edited' with permanent marker, going from 'FALLED HEROES' (there was an error in the print run, given the notice of less than a week) to 'RISEN HEROES' and are, regretfully, being given away for free.

For those who stay, an impromptu party breaks out, and the occasion quickly becomes the latest swear-in, albeit with a more casual emphasis on the actual swearing-in than usual; a card table is set up with the usual seals and documents, but it's a bit haphazard.

Along with tasty libations, local musicians start jamming on acoustic guitars in the park's gazebo, setting up some cheerful background music—or maybe you're not too tired to dance? A local physical therapy school has rolled in multiple portable massage tables, with free sessions for sore heroes!

The locals who haven't dispersed yet are also around, likely to seek autographs from the world savers, while podcasters, BlueTubers and regular nosy nellies might lean in with a recording device, asking for the real story of what happened. For imPorts who become too intoxicated or exhausted to porter home, many locals are offering couches to crash on — although the pillows they use may later show up on ePay.

Comments

Peter Parker | OTA

[made_up_names]

VICTORY...

We - we won? Holy crap, we actually won.

[ Peter's stumbling out with the rest of the heroes, blinking around at the crowd and the very much not destroyed world with awe. Also a a little glee? And a lot of relief, oh yeah. Mostly he's just high off adrenaline for the moment, and glad to be alive. He's immediately getting out his phone to text his friends, or go hug anyone he finds out here. The world has been saved and he's so, so happy about it.

In the immediate flush of victory, his losses might not be so obvious. But they are present nonetheless: pale exhaustion in his face, a certain lack of vitality to his everything. And he reacts oddly to people getting too close to him, like an invisible alarm system is going off all the time instead of only when it needs to. ]

... AT A COST

[ As the night goes on, Peter's exhaustion gets progressively worse, until he finally has to excuse himself from the party to go hole up in a corner with his phone. He's frowning down at it, worry getting worse as his texts go from worried to frantic, and then panicked. ]

Hey, have you seen Marco? Did he end up in Jeopardy at all?

[ Maybe some people haven't come back yet. He really hopes it's something like that, because he's not getting a response, and the only other option for that would be... ]

OTA

[ ANYTHING ELSE is also fine. Peter will be here all night. ]

One phone call later...

[mysterioisthetruth]

[It's true that Beck was in Heropa, putting in an appearance to honour the lost... But he'd been keeping a low profile and dressed casually so when the heroes all suddenly reappeared, he tried to blend in there instead. First thing, he'd called Peter to see if he was among them and once he got a location, he headed over to meet up with him. It wasn't difficult to look distressed and concerned as he approached.]

Peter! Finally! This is such a mess. I was worried sick.

[made_up_names]

[ And Peter, despite everything, actually looks relieved to see him. Beck may be an asshole, but he's some kind of normalcy in Peter's life. He'll take it. For the moment. Even if he regrets that later.

Peter, meanwhile, is actually disheveled, having fought monsters both with and without his powers in Jeopardy. There's the occasional smudge of blood on his face or clothes, though thankfully Finn's gotten to heal up the worst of his injuries. There's just some bruising left at his collar and right at the edge of his sleeve. Easy to miss if you're not looking for them ... but highly unusual for Peter. Either he got hit by something thtat his healing factor couldn't take care of, or ... well. anyway. ]

I'm fine. It was fine. I mean, crazy, sure, but went pretty good for an apocalypse.

[mysterioisthetruth]

[Beck looks a bit too clean and uninjured compared to most returning heroes - but he'll certainly have an excuse for that if it comes up. He hadn't been prepared for them coming back like this or else he would have at least worn his hero suit.]

Yes... It looks like... the world is fine. We're alive.

[made_up_names]

[ Enough to make Peter notice, dimly, but not enough to make him suspicious, anyway. ]

Somehow. It was close for a minute there.

[mysterioisthetruth]

[With so much going on, details are easy to brush aside or overlook. Beck's counting on that.]

Yes. I'm glad to see you... but have you seen a medic? What happened to you out there? Sorry to say it, but you look like hell.

[made_up_names]

[ It helps that Peter's trying to keep a few secrets of his own. He winces a little. ]

I'm fine. Someone already healed me, so I just gotta wait for the rest to go away on its own.

[mysterioisthetruth]

You must have run into something significantly bad.

I'm sorry I wasn't around to help. I had my own trouble to take care of.

[Yeah, fending off Loki and Harley Quinn at Joker's party.]

[made_up_names]

[ Legit, but also not what Peter is picturing. ]

... Yeah? What'd you run into?

At a cost (let me know if not okay)

[privatepurchases]

[It is totally by accident that Gabriel, staggering around the party and trying to ignore people asking to see his wings -

(he finally growls fuck off at one)

He blinks, and looks at the boy.]

Marco?!

No. I didn't see him.

Is he all right.

[If those things hurt that boy, one of the first boys to be kind to him.

His eyes glow bright for a moment before they fade.]

...Do you know him?

totally works for me!

[made_up_names]

[ Uh. He has no idea who this guy is, but if they're a friend of Marco then they're ... well okay, they might still not be a decent person, but Peter is definitely inclined to trust them a little more. Especially if they seem protective on Marco's behalf. He rubs at his face a little, dragging his gaze away from the phone to look over at Gabriel.

(There's a bit of instant regret in doing that - looking at Gabriel straight on with his muddled spider senses make him wince, hard.) ]

I - yeah. He's my boyfriend. And he's not picking up.

[ And the more he calls, the more worried he's getting. ]

Re: totally works for me!

[privatepurchases]

[Oh.

Oh no.]

He might be sleeping, humans do that.

...Do -

[Marco was nice to him and it seems so incredibly immature but most human beings...were not kind. Well perhaps more of them were when he thought but the older man looks panicked.]

What - what what do you do in this case. What can I do to help you.

[made_up_names]

[ This is such a bizarre conversation already. In a good way? But Gabe is getting weird looks in between worried ones. ]

Do you know him?

[privatepurchases]

...He was kind to me.

[the other man stares at his hands and shakes his head] Sorry. My head is righting itself. I'm-

I'm Gabriel. The archangel Gabriel.

[His hands stay put and he nods because - human niceities.] He is my friend. Or at least a friend, when I first arrived he was a brat - but we got to know each other. He explained some things about being human and offered advice and...well. yes.

[Non-human entity started trying to make a friend.]

[made_up_names]

[ Uh. Uhhhhh???

He sort of stares when he, y'know, introduces himself as the archangel Gabriel. That's a new one all right. ]

You're - uh - you're friends with Marco. Okay. He didn't mention you.

[ Not accusatory at all! Just surprised. ]

[privatepurchases]

[Oh. He pauses looks away before he nods slowly.]

Well I considered him a friend but if he didn't then I suppose that's that. I cared. But we just sort of kept getting thrown together and I-

I'm just concerned. He was nice, he had a clear head on his shoulders.

[made_up_names]

[ Oops. he holds up his hands! ]

No, I definitely believe you're friends. Marco's got a lot of - [ He almost says "weird" here ] - friends I don't know very well.

[ Anyway. ]

Yeah. He really does? Part of why I like him.

Victory

[timestones]

[In Stephen's mind, there isn't a tremendous amount to say or do now and he is, like Peter and probably everyone else, exhausted.

He catches sight of Peter as he emerges from the storm and steps over to lay what he intends as a steadying, reassuring hand upon the boy's shoulder.]

We did. Nice work, kid.

[And he does mean that, but of course Stephen still sounds like, well, Stephen.]

[made_up_names]

[ Peter wobbles a bit more than he really should there - when he had super strength, it was hard to jostle him - but he manages a smile. Despite the Stephen-ness of that statement, wow. Good job. ]

I'm still not 100% sure what we even did.

[timestones]

[Though he had been expecting the contact to Peter's shoulder to be fleeting, when Stephen feels Peter teeter slightly he grips a little more firmly in an attempt to help him steady him. Maybe it's just exhaustion and over-exertion that has Peter a little wobbly, but Stephen keeps a careful eye on him all the same.]

Not in methods too dissimilar to how we did it before. [Then, with a little shrug.] I assume.

[made_up_names]

[ There will be other hints, for sure. For now, it sure looks like exhaustion (and he is, certainly, exhausted.) ]

There was a lot of punching. Less punching Atropos in the face, though.

[timestones]

[He could take his hand away, but for the moment Stephen leaves it exactly where it is, a stabling, hopefully non-invasive contact.]

Probably for the best. The chances of it ending well were incredibly slim.

[made_up_names]

[ You're doing great, Stephen. Keep it up. ]

Did you look into my future for that one?

[timestones]

I looked at a lot of futures. [He gives a performative kind of wince.] That one? Not one of your better outcomes. Not the worst, but not great.

[Stephen gives Peter a slightly closer stare.]

You look like you need to sit down.

[made_up_names]

[ Ah. That's a slightly uncomfortable expression. Did Strange already see what he'd done in the hall of justice? ]

Okay, okay. I'll sit. I'm tired.